Topic: course selection

1. Zen and the Art of Course
Selection
College Rules! Chapter 4

2. Balance
— Balancing Tasks
— Balance between heavy and light courses
— Balancing Time
— Morning classes vs. afternoon classes
— Resist overloading!
— Balancing Interests
— Spread out your courses throughout the semester.
— Do not wait to take your least favorite “required”
course

3. College Advisors
— Always, always, always, ask questions!
— What type of things to ask your advisor:
— Course and degree requirements…
— Which professors to take…
— Internships…
— Summer jobs…
— Studying abroad opportunities…

4. Picking Professors
— Professors > Courses on level of importance
— Find out from other students from their experiences
— Style of teaching
— Size of classes
— Grading procedures
— Overall level of difficulty
— www.ratemyprofessors.com
— Rates professors from different universities on quality,
helpfulness, clarity, and easiness.

6. Planning it out
— Make a timeline of what you plan to take
— Figure out how long it will take for you to get your
degree

7. Withdrawal
• You can drop a class if
it’s in your best interest
• Too overwhelming
• Failing the course
and can’t pull up
the grade

8. Interview Questions
1. How do you balance your courses? (for example, when choosing
courses, do you balance between heavy reading courses and those
that require less reading, do you take all math courses, etc.)
2. What time are all your classes? Do you take morning classes or do
you prefer to sleep in and take classes later in the day?
3. Do you have any "core" courses that you are required to take but
you don't like? Have you already taken them or are you pushing to
take those less interesting classes to the last possible semester.
4. Are college advisors helpful?
5. Do you like all your professors? Why or why not?
6. Do you have a plan of all the courses you will take for the next four
years (like a timeline)?
7. Have you dropped any classes?

9. Interviewee 1: Gina Lu
1. The best way to balance the courses is to take two core/hard courses (usually 10
credits) and balance them with one or two easy courses (5-8 credits). I found this
out the hard way since I kept taking 3 core classes…
2. This quarter my classes begin at 10.30am and 8.30am and usually end before 2pm.
I prefer afternoon classes but its quite impossible as most core classes are in the
morning.
3. I liked all of my core courses.
4. College advisors are not exactly always helpful.
5. Some professors are really good, but others are useless, I don’t learn
anything.
6. Yes, I have a plan of all the courses I will take before I graduate.
7. Yes, I have dropped classes.

10. Interviewee 2: Shaun chen
1. Since the UC schools require students to take general education classes (classes that have nothing to do with
your major), we use these classes to balance out with our main classes.
2. I learned my lesson about 8 am classes, so i moved my earliest classes till 9 am. It is better to take some
morning classes, since it gives you more time in the afternoon to do other work.
3. None of my core courses are classes that I don't like. I am trying to double major, so I would need to take
more courses each quarter.
4. College advisors can only help you to a certain extent. The rest is on your own.
5. Most of my professors are ok. Beware of professors with strong accents or harsh grading curves. Each college
usually have a website with student evaluations of each professor. Checking that out would help you
choose between lectures.
6. Planning out is definitely helpful. It really makes you think about how many classes do you need to take to
complete your major.
7. I haven't dropped any classes. But some schools have a pass or no pass policy, which means that the grade
for that class cannot be counted in your GPA, while still giving you the credit.

11. Interviewee 3: michelle hao
1. It's best to have a four-year plan going into college. Every major has its required courses...if you can
choose what order to take them in, try to pair up a hard class with an easy class.
2. Everyone's college schedule here changes a ton depending on the semester. Sometimes the class you
need is only offered at 8am and maybe 6 pm. Also, we don't have a personal college advisor until we
declare our major. And most people in Berkeley declare their major in the sophomore year.
3. Berkeley has an "American Cultures" requirement and several others depending on your high school
coursework. I think, at a big school, there are always enough options to find a great class.
4. The reliability and helpfulness of college advisors depend on how many students they are responsible
for. Your peers are another really good resource.
5. None of my professors are mean, but some are better lecturers than others. Online course ratings give
you a good idea of a professor's personality and exam difficulty level.
6. I do not have a plan for all the courses, but only for the courses required by my major

12. Interviewee 4: Jonathan Jacob
1. I think you should 2. My classes start at 11 3. You should get your 4. College advisors
choose courses that AM everyday and end at requisites out of the can be helpful, but it
go towards your 6 PM everyday. My way as soon as you really depends on
requirement. Friday is usually free. I can. But for your first who you get. You
However, you like classes later in the semester, take classes know who's helpful?
should be smart day because I am more you enjoy. TAKE A Upperclassmen.
about it. Say, you're aware and conscious in WEIRD CLASS - a They always have
a business major, but the afternoon. Trust me, class you never good advice and
you're not so good at do not take morning thought would take. It would usually direct
math. You should classes especially in your will enrich your you where to go.
take business first semester of college. college experience These students have
courses that require There are so many things been through what
the least amount of to do everyday. I stay up you're going through
math. I stay away to 4 AM every night so they know best.
from math and socializing with people. I
reading-intensive had 9 AM everyday my
courses. first semester and I was
late to class half of the
time. But in the end, it's
your choice.

13. 5. I do like my professors 6. No, I do not plan them 7. Yes, I dropped a writing
for the most part. In a in a timeline. I plan my seminar course my first
small college like classes for every semester because I did not
Brandeis, the faculty to semester because you identify with the topic at all
student ratio is low and are always going to (US-Israel Relations). It's
you get a lot of personal change your mind on not bad to drop a course
attention. Make sure you what you want. It's not a before the deadline. Even
go to your professor's good idea to strictly then, you can drop a class
office hours - they are follow a formula of with a W (Withdrawn). But
very helpful and it's a courses. You should of course, it looks better if
good way to build keep in mind what you drop it before a
friendly relations with classes you should take, deadline. That way, your
your professors. You but you should never transcript says that you
might need their restrict yourself this way. never took the course.
recommendations in the Make sure you make up for
future so it's a good idea. your dropped course. At
Brandeis, you have to take
a minimum of 7 courses in
a year.

14. Interviewee 5: Rudy Wang
1. For a lot of courses, it's difficult to balance them out because they are required
courses. Most of my friends focus on time management to get their work done.
2. This semester, I have 9:30 AM classes followed by afternoon 2 PM classes. Morning
classes are not bad as long as you don't select an 8 AM course. But then again, if
you're one of those people who sleep late at night, like my roommate, make sure to
get an 11 AM or later course.
4. For me, I didn't think the college advisors are that helpful. Make connections with
upperclassmen so they could help you through planning schedules and stuff. Ask
around your friends, too, since they probably know more than the college advisors
5. Yes, I do enjoy most of my professors, because they are patient and willing to take
the time to help you out.